Child Motion Apparatus with Foldable Upright Column and Anchor Lock
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current infant swings are cumbersome due to large standing frames and complicated folding mechanisms, making them difficult to transport.
Innovation Solution
A child motion apparatus with a base, upright column, and pivotally supported seat that can be conveniently folded and unfolded, featuring a locking anchor to stabilize the seat and a magnetic drive system for sideways swaying motion, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If large standing frames and swing arms are used to provide stable support for the child, then the structural stability is improved, but the device complexity and portability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The swing structure is divided into separable components including a base unit with upright column, a seat assembly with pivot joint, and independent swing arms. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for stability while enabling easy assembly and disassembly for portability, resolving the contradiction between structural stability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic locking mechanisms at pivot joints that allow the structure to transition between locked (stable) and unlocked (portable) states. The swing arms can be positioned at various angles and secured with locking pins, providing structural stability during use while allowing easy reconfiguration and folding for transport, thus resolving the stability-portability contradiction.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a pivotally supported seat with rotation capability is implemented to provide gentle swinging motion, then the soothing function is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The seat assembly is extracted as a separate pivotally supported component that can be independently attached to the upright column. This allows the swinging motion function to be provided through a simple pivot joint with locking mechanism, improving ease of operation while maintaining adaptability for different swinging motions. The seat can be easily removed and reattached without complex mechanisms.
3Stability of the object's composition
If an anchor locking mechanism is added to block rotation of the seat, then the structural stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor locking mechanism is designed as a self-service system where the anchor automatically engages with a slot or notch in the base when the swing arms are in the correct position. This gravity-assisted or spring-loaded automatic locking provides seat stability without requiring complex manual locking mechanisms, resolving the contradiction between stability and device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A child motion apparatus (100) includes a base (102) having an upper surface (103), an upright column (106) connected with the base (102) and protruding upward through the upper surface (103), a seat (104) pivotally supported by the upright column (106) above the upper surface (103) of the base (102), the seat (104) being disposed at a top of the upright column (106) and being rotatable relative the base (102) about a rotation axis (Z) defined by the upright column (106), and an anchor (190, 194) movably assembled with either of the seat (104) and the base (102) at a position distant from the upright column (106). The anchor (190, 194) has a locking position where the anchor (190, 194) extends across a gap between a bottom of the seat (104) and the upper surface (103) of the base (102) and blocks rotation of the seat (104) about the rotation axis (Z), and an unlocking position allowing rotation of the seat (104) about the rotation axis (Z).